Hello hurricane

"Everything I have I count as lost
Everything I have is stripped away
Before I started building I counted up these costs
There's nothing left for you to take away."
cv
This one is basically the secret of living freedom. It's that thing about expectations - when you expect Indiana Jones IV to be good, you leave the cinema feeling personally cheated. When I went having heard every damning review, I had a great time. The film was the same. But it didn't get me down, because I had realistic expectations. Similarly, I enjoy watching England play at the world cup, because I know they're going to mess it all up.
er
When I said 'yes' to Jesus, I knew I was saying 'yes' to a lot of trouble. I didn't know how it would all feel, but like when I had my bags stolen on the way to Entebbe airport, I am able to say 'of course. I knew this was coming. And it's ok.' Because it also reminds me of the reason I made such a mental commitment - the living God called me; Jesus, gracious and compassionate, abounding in steadfast loving kindness, repaying injustice to the 4th generation, and forgiving to the thousandth. All trouble can do it take me away from my hollow comfort in this world and remind me how great he is.

This is your life

"This is your life. Are you who you want to be?
Is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger
And you had everything to lose?"

I'd forgotten. I'd forgotten - again - that I decide how my life goes. What I do, where I go, what I think about, how I feel. People constantly lean on you with their expectations, and I'm a sucker for it. Sometimes I even give in to expectations people don't even have or express! Or I just go with the flow of life, look back and wish I'd done those things I excitedly visualised but gave up on when it didn't happen like I'd expected. I felt a great surge of freedom to remember that I have the power to choose my destiny.

And as I talked to Dan on the way home, I was heartened to be able to say honestly, 'Yes, yes it is. I'm doing the things I thought heroic in 'high school'. I couldn't imagine then what it would feel like, but I still think I was spot on.' I feel like smirking whenever I tell someone 'what I do', thinking, 'I'm actually doing this!'

Switchfoot reflections

Me and Dan went to see Switchfoot the other week. I rarely go our of my way for live music, so this is quite significant. Jon Foreman has become one of my favourite writers; and one of my heroes. My favourite artists are always those who seem to express my deepest feeling about life. The experience of reading thir book, listening to their CD, whatever, is made sublime by it's resonance. 'Yes!' I cry (sometimes out loud, in public places), 'that's it! That's exactly how it is!'

ewioj

What was remarkable about the gig wasn't the family-like interplay between band and fans - Delirious top them there. Nor was it the contrasting moments of utter musical euphoria and raw humanity - yes U2. The power of this gig wasn't in the experience at all, but in the series of plot twist revelations about life - the sudden rememberances of truth that colour everything different to how it was before. I thought I'd share some with you. Keep reading...!